What does the x-ray absorption of a specimen rely on?

The x-ray absorption of a specimen is influenced significantly by properties such as the thickness and density of the material, as well as the atomic number. When x-rays penetrate a specimen, different materials will absorb varying amounts of radiation based on these factors.

The thickness of the specimen determines how much material the x-rays must pass through, with thicker materials typically absorbing more x-rays. Density also plays a crucial role because denser materials contain more atoms in a given volume, which increases the likelihood of interactions between the x-rays and the material, leading to greater absorption. Lastly, the atomic number contributes to absorption because higher atomic number elements have more electrons, resulting in a higher probability of x-ray attenuation. This combined effect of thickness, density, and atomic number fundamentally determines the degree to which x-rays are absorbed by a material, thereby impacting radiographic results.